Homes for the Future
Top takeaways from our housing conference
The housebuilding target is set, but our 2025 conference looked beyond the numbers to the types of homes and neighbourhoods that Londoners will need to thrive in the future. Read the top takeaways for every session.
London faces an acute housing shortage, closely entwined with growing social and economic inequality. The built environment sector is using all its ingenuity to tackle the stretching target of 1.5 million new homes before 2030.
This is a massive national challenge, but we also see opportunities. The announcement of a new £39 billion affordable homes programme earlier this year shows the political will to accelerate housebuilding.
By focusing on community wellbeing, equity and sustainability, we can develop homes that are properly fit for the future.
As part of our Homes for the Future programme, we brought together a rich programme of keynotes, panel discussions and workshops to seize the opportunity to create homes and neighbourhoods that will ensure future generations can thrive in London.
Conference sessions
On Thursday 9 October 2025, over 150 delegates and speakers came together at The Building Centre for plenary and breakout sessions that focused on the following themes:
- Relevance – matching housing to genuine demographic needs and changing lifestyles
- Sustainability – housing designs for climate change to create resilient homes and neighbourhoods
- Safety – integrating lessons from past housing failures to prioritise resident protection and well-being
- Equity – ensuring access to quality housing across all incomes, ethnicities, and backgrounds
- Sociability – investigating housing models that foster social connections through participatory design
Download the conference programme
Download Homes for the Future - report
Download Homes for the Future - summary
Homes for the Future conference write-ups
Keynotes
- Nicola Mathers, Chief Executive, Future of London (Chair)
- Manny Hothi, Chief Executive, Trust for London
- Sharon Goddard, Managing Director for North-West London, Peabody
Somers Town field trip
- Anne Wynne, Associate, DSDHA
- Clodagh McCallig, Development Team Leader, Camden Council
- Jane Debono, Principal Planner, Camden Council
- Johanna Gewolker, Principal Transport Planner, Camden Council
- Lauren Walter, Development Manager, Camden Council
- Nerissa Sweeney, Senior Development Manager, Camden Council
Resident protection and well-being
- James McHugh, Senior Consultant, Campbell Tickell (Chair)
- Petronila Osodo, Head of Building Safety – Remediation, Notting Hill Genesis
- Remy Mohamed, Grenfell Response Policy and Programme Manager, Greater London Authority
- Eoin Quiery, Head of Housing Strategy and Partnership, London Borough of Waltham Forest
The power of Passivhaus
- Carolina Eboli, Associate Director, PRD
- Rodrigo García Priego, Head of Energy & Carbon, Greengage
- Mark Newstead, Director of Major Programmes, L&Q
- Emma Osmundsen, Assistant Director Housing Regeneration, Ealing Council
Access to quality housing for all
- Lizzie Le Mare, Director, Tibbalds
- Jon Neale, Head of Research and Insight, Montagu Evans
- Caroline Richardson, Divisional Head of Social Value, Vistry Group
- Nnenna Urum-Eke, Assistant Director, Lewisham Council
- Andrea Baker, Director of Housing and Corporate Services, Poplar HARCA
Resident safety and well-being
- Richard James, Chief Executive Officer, YMCA St Paul’s Group (Chair)
- Sade Walters, YMCA World Change Agent and Youth Ambassador
An equitable future: Lessons from Kidbrooke Park
- Lee Christie, Engagement and Consultation Manager, Royal Borough of Greenwich
Postcards from our future neighbourhoods
- Namon Freeman, Manager/Lead – Housing, Bloomberg Associates (Chair)
- Anna Shapiro, Partner, Sheppard Robson
- Mariana Schiller, Coordinator, FICA
- Ivana Stancic, Co-Director, Dark Matter Labs
Applying our knowledge to the types of homes London needs – workshop
Oliver Deed, Managing Director, ECF (chair)
Facilitators: Kyle Buchanan Archio, Neill Campbell BPTW, Nina Cilins Campbell Tickell, Grace Crannis Richmond & Wandsworth Councils, Mike Harris Greengage Environmental, Isabelle Hosford Pocket Living, Andrea Jung Islington Council, Rebecca Lee Pollard Thomas Edwards, Oliver Maury Montagu Evans, Christivie Monzele Enfield Council, Thomasin Renshaw Pocket Living, Karen Swift, Tower Hamlets Council
Write-up to follow in final Homes for the Future report
Systems thinking to deliver homes for the future
- Caroline Harper, Interim Managing Director, Be First (Chair)
- Amy Shaw, Partner, Trowers & Hamlins
- Marion MacCormick, Partner – Projects, Pollard Thomas Edwards
- Bridget Wilkins, Head of Adoption, Engagement, and Innovation, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
- Rich Knight, Sustainability Senior Associate, Ridge and Partners
Our partners
Thanks to our conference sponsors
Countryside Partnerships | Montagu Evans | Pollard Thomas Edwards | Trowers & Hamlins | Common Projects | Greengage Environmental | Ridge and Partners | Sheppard Robson
